Adjustable shower head



AJUSTABLE SHOWER HEAD i May 24, 1966 R. w. HYDE 3,252,650

Filed April 1, 1964 4 M BY Fig.8 Fig.9 6 3 gins 35 m-ronuzvs.

United States Patent "ice 3,252,660 ADJUSTABLE SHOWER HEAD Robert W.Hyde, Crystal River, Fla., assignor to Pryde, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 356,447 19 Claims. (Cl.239-460) This invention relates to shower heads and has to do moreparticularly with the construction of an improved shower head which isreadily adjustable by the user to vary the flow of water therethrough.

While numerous expedients have hitherto been proposed for adjusting theflow of water through a shower head so that the user may selectivelyregulate the flow from sharp needle-like jets down to relatively large,low velocity streams, such adjustable heads for the most part are ofrelatively complex construction and hence too expensive for manyinstallations wherein price is a controlling factor. Lesser expensiveadjustable shower heads have also been proposed, but these in largemeasure rely on an adjustable button or similar deflecting memberlocated at the outlet end of the head to diffuse the stream of water, itbeing necessary for the user to insert his hand into the path of thestream to make the adjustment. Usually this is done by turning thebutton which is threaded into the head or by turning a threaded membereflective to displace the deflector toward or away from an outletorifice in the head. Such arrangements are highly unsatisfactory in thatthe users hand must be inserted into the path of the stream in order tomake the necessary adjustment, the hand removed to observe the results,and then reinserted one or more times if further adjustment is required.Often times such movements result in water being sprayed into the usersface or elsewhere where not intended. In addition, the average Watersupply contains mineral matter and scale which collect on the showerhead with the result that the threaded fittings readily clog and freeze,and the devices are no longer adjustable.

The instant invention overcomes the aforementioned diiliculties byproviding a plastic shower head which is free from threaded connectionsbetween its relatively movable parts, adjustment being effected byrotating the entire nozzle portion of the shower head which may bereadily gripped by the user from outside the path of the spray.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the instant invention toprovide an improved adjustable shower head of the character describedwherein the shower head is composed of a plurality of interfitting partswhich may be readily molded from plastic materials. Due to the lack ofelectrolytic action between plastic materials and water, mineral matterand scale are not held on the parts. Plastic materials are alsorelatively inexpensive and hence materially reduce the cost of thedevice.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a showerhead composed of a plurality of parts which, when fitted together, areinterlocking and maintain their assembled relationship Without resort tobolts, setscrews or other threaded connections. At the same time theconstruction is such that the nozzle portion of the head may be rotatedrelative to the remaining parts thereof to effectively vary the flow ofwater therethrough.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a nozzleconstruction wherein the nozzle is provided with a centrally disposedoutlet orifice opening into a cupshaped spray chamber, with a button ordeflector mounted so as to direct the stream of water flowing throughthe outlet orifice radially outwardly and downwardly through the spraychamber, the arrangement of parts being such that adjustment is efiectedby moving the nozzle part relative to the button deflector rather thanby moving the deflector itself.

Patented May 24, 1966 Still a further object of the instant invention isthe provision of a shower head of the character described composedessentially of a swivel part, a core part, a nozzle part, and a buttondeflector, all of which are maintained in assembled relation by means ofcoacting sets of barbed fingers wholly contained within the assembledhead, one such set of barbed fingers serving to operatively connect thenozzle part to the core part while at the same time mounting the partsfor rotation relative to each other, the said parts including cam meansoperative upon such relative rotation to effect axial movement of thenozzle relative to the button deflector, thereby eifectively adjustingthe flow of water through the head.

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of ashower head of the character described which is essentially tamper proofin that the locking fingers which secure the parts together are whollyenclosed within the assembled unit, although if it becomes necessary toremove the deflector for cleaning purposes, it may be disengaged byinserting a tool into the head through the swivel end thereof to releasethe barbed fingers which hold the deflector in assembled relation.

Yet another object of the instant invention is the provision of anadjustable shower head of the character described which is essentiallyself-cleaning in that the stream of water flowing through the head isconverted into a spray by causing it to flow through a series ofradially disposed grooves formed in the cup-shaped spray cham bet, thegrooves curving outwardly and downwardly from the centrally disposedoutlet orifice in the nozzle with the flow of water serving tocontinuously flush and clear the grooves.

The foregoing together with other objects of the invention which willappear hereinafter or which will be apparent to the skilled worker inthe art upon reading this specification, are accomplished by thatconstruction and arrangement of parts of which an exemplary embodimentshall now be described.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded side elevational view with certain parts shownin sections and others in dotted lines illustrating an adjustable showerhead constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the underside of the swivel part of theshower head.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the core part of the shower head.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the core part.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the nozzle part of the device.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan View of. the nozzle part of the device.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view taken from the right hand side ofFIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the assembled shower headillustrating the nozzle part in one position of use, the view beingtaken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view with parts broken awayillustrating the nozzle part in another position of use, the view beingtaken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 3.

For a general understanding of the invention, reference is first made toFIGURE 1 o-fthe drawings where in it will be seen that the unitcomprises a swivel part 1, a core part 2, a nozzle part 3, and a buttondeflector 4. In addition, a ball coupling 5 is provided by means ofwhich the shower head will be operatively connected to a water pipe (notshown) forming a part of the conventional plumbing necessary toestablish a shower outlet.

The coupling is of conventional character, having an attachment portion6 which is normally threaded internally to receive mating threading onthe end of the supply pipe, the coupling terminating at its opposite endin a ball portion 7 of generally spherical configuration. The couplinghas an internal bore 8 through which water may flow, there being anoutlet opening 9 at the lowermost end of the ball portion which willcommunicate with the interior of the shower head. As is well known, theball coupling provides a convenient means for adjusting the position ofthe shower head, the coupling providing a universal joint by means ofwhich the user may adjust the position of the "shower head.

The head itself is operatively connected to the ball joint by means ofthe swivel part 1 which comprises essentially a tubular body portion orsocket 10 terminating downwardly in an annular skirt portion 11. A pairof locking fingers 12 project downwardly from opposite sides of theskirt portion 11, the fingers 1-2 terminating at their lowermost ends inbarbs 13 which, as will be pointed out in greater detail hereinafter,are adapted to enter into interlocking engagement with finger receivingslots in the core part 2, At its uppermost end, the tubular body portion10 of the swivel terminates in an inturned annular lip 14, the internaldiameter of which is somewhat smaller than the internal diameter of thebody portion 10.

The swivel part will be molded from a plastic material, such as athermoplastic resin characterized by high strength and stiffnesscombined with toughness and resiliency over a Wide temperature range,together with good dimensional stability in the presence of moisture.Delrin, which is an acetal resin manufactured by the E. I. du Pont deNemours & Co., is exemplary of thermoplastic resins having the desiredcharacteristics. It will be understood, of course, that materials otherthan resins or plastics may be employed provided they are sufiicientlyresilient to permit flexing the locking fingers. Plastic materials arenonetheless preferred due to their lack of electrolytic action in thepresence of water as well as their ability to be readily molded and alsobecause'of their relatively low cost. In addition, such materialspossess excellent bearing characteristics-being lubricby n-aturewhich isadvantageous where the parts are in conduct and move relative to eachother. Consequently, it is preferred that all of the parts of the showerhead, namely, the swivel, the core, the nozzle, and the deflector beformed from plastic. In fact, the ball coupling may be formed fromplastic if so desired, although it is preferred that it be formed frommetal in convention-a1 fashion.

The dimensioning of the parts of the swivel will be such that theinternal diameter of the tubular body portion will be slightly smallerthan the diameter of the ball 7; it being intended that theball'coupling be inserted into the swivel from beneath, with the innersurfaces of the tubular body portion 10 press fitted into grippingengagement with the mid-section of the ball 7, thereby providing a sealand at the same time permitting adjustment of the shower head. Since theannular lip 14 is of smaller diameter than the tubular body portion 10,it will prevent the swivel part from being disengaged from the ballcoupling after the parts have been assembled. It also should be pointedout that the external diameter of the attachment portion 6 of the ballcoupling 5 will be such that it may be readily passed upwardly throughthe annular lip 14 as the parts :are assembled, Preferably, the internaldiameter of the lip will be slightly greater than the external diameterof the attachment portion 6, thereby readily facilitating the assemblyof the parts;

The core part 2 has a centrally disposed flow tube 16' the upper end ofwhich is dimensioned to be press fitted within the tubular body portionor socket 10 of the swivel part, thereby providing a seal between thetubular body 10 and the flow tube 16. The uppermost end of the flow tube16 will be chamfered at 17 so that, when the flow tube is receivedwithin the tubular body portion of the swivel part, the chamferedsurface will closely approach or even contact the ball 7 of the coupling5. A jacket 18 surrounds the flow tube 16 and lies in spaced relationthereto, the jacket being connected to the flow tube by means of aspider-like member 19. This member is provided with an opposing pairofslots 20 of a size to receive the locking fingers 12 of the swivelpart; and it is also provided with an opposing pair of elongated arcuateslots 21 which, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, areadapted to receive a pair of locking fingers forming a part of thenozzle 3. In addition, and as best seen in FIGURE 3, the upper surfaceof the core part 2'is provided with a pair of inclined cam tracks 22lying immediately beyond the elongated arcuate slots 21, the cam trackseach having a lowermost end 22a and an elevated end 2217. As seen inFIGURE 4, the under surface of the spider-like member 19 is providedwith a pair of cam tracks 23 lying immediately beyond the elongatedarcuate slots 21, the cam tracks 23 having their lowermost ends at 23aand their uppermost ends at 23b, The orientation of the cam tracks 22and 23 relative to each other is such that the raised or high ends 22bof the cam tracks 22 overlie the low ends 23a of the cam tracks 23; Thisarrangement, as will become apparent hereinafter, serves to effect axialmovement of the nozzle part 3 relative to the core part 2 where thenozzle part is rotated.

The flow tube 16 of the core part has central portion 24which may beslightly restricted if desiredin which a bar 25 is mounted, the barbeing centrally disposed within the central portion of the flow tube andhaving a recessed portion 26 at its center. At the lowermost end of thecentral portion 24, the flow tube expands outwardly into a somewhatenlarged lower portion 27 having an annular shoulder 28.

The nozzle part 3 has a centrally disposed tubular neck portion 30 of asize to be received within the central portion 24 of the flow tube 16.The neck portion 30 terminates downwardly in an enlarged portion 31'which, at

its juncture with the portion 30, defines an annular seat 32 for anO-ring 29; The O-ring is thus confined between the seat 32 and theannular shoulder 28. Alternatively, the neck portion may be sized to belightly press fitted within the flow tube to the elimination of theO-ring. The enlarged neck portion 3 1' flares downwardly and outwardlyat 33 to define a centrally disposed spray chamber 34, the spray chamber34 curving downwardly and outwardly from a centrally disposed outletorifice 3-5. Essentially, the nozzle part has a flat under surface'36surrounding and projecting outwardly from the lowermoste'dge of thespray chamber 34; and the spray chamber itself is provided with aplurality of radially disposed vanes 37 which define flutes or grooves38 through which the stream of water flowing through the outlet orifice35'will be caused annular recess 42 formed in the under surface of thespider-like member 19' of core part 2', with the flat bottom surface ofthe recess defining a pair of semi-circular cam tracks 42a and42b'separated from each other by the ledges 43a and 43b. Thus, the camtrack 4-2a-will have its low' end at the ledge 43b-which is also thehigh end-of cam track 42b-whereas the high end of cam track 42a and thelow end of cam track 42b will be at the ledge 43a.

The nozzle part is also provided with an opposing pair of up wardlyprojecting locking fingers 44 which, as best seen in FIGURE 7, haveoutwardly directed barbs 45 positioned to engage the arcuate slots 21 inthe core memher 2 with the under surfaces of the barbs 4S seated on thecam tracks 22. The fingers also incorporate outwardly projecting ledges46 which are adapted to underlie the spider-like member 19 with theledges contacting the cam tracks 23 formed in the under surface of thespider-like member.

The button deflector 4 comprises a circular body 47 the diameter ofwhich is greater than the diameter of the outlet orifice 35 in thenozzle but of a size to freely fit within the spray chamber 34 betweenthe innermost edges of the vanes 37. The upper surface of the circularbody 47 will be tapered or curved, as indicated at 48, so that when thebutton is associated with the nozzle, water flowing through the outletorifice 35 Will be deflected radially outwardly and downwardly into theflutes 38; and in this connection, it will be remembered that the spraychamber 34 is also curved outwardly and downwardly so that, as thestream of Water passes through the outlet orifice 35, it will beimmediately deflected in a radial yet downwardly curved path. Projectingupwardly from the circular body 47 is an opposing pair of grippingfingers 49 of a size to extend freely upwardly through the outletorifice 35, the fingers having inturned barbs 50 on their uppermost endsadapted to engage the bar 25 in the core part with the barbs seated inrecess 26. Preferably, the engagement of the bar 25 by the fingers 49will be loose, that is, while the fingers will serve to secure thebutton part to the bar and hence to the core part, their connection willnonetheless be non-rigid so that there may be suificient play in thebutton to permit it to be self-centering relative to the outlet orifice35 in the nozzle part.

The assembled condition of the shower head is illustrated in FIGURES 8and 9. As will be seen therein, the ball portion 7 of the coupling 5 ispress fitted Within the tubular body or socket 10 of the swivel part 1with the annular lip 14 surrounding the surface of the ball above itsmid-section. The press fit afiords a water tight seal between the partsand yet the plastic swivel permits pivotal movement so that the positionof the shower head may be adjusted. At the same time, the upper end offlow tube 16 is press fitted within the lowermost end of the tubularbody portion 10 with the chamfered upper edge of the flow tubeapproaching or even contacting the surface of the ball immediately belowits mid-section. This arrangement provides a water tight seal betweenthe swivel part and the core part. Consequently, gasket means are not required between the ball coupling and the upper end of the flow tube. Ofcourse, if desired, the upper end of the flow tube may be configured toreceive a conventional gasket or washer adapted to seat against the ballwithout departing from the spirit and purpose of the invention.

As will be evident from FIGURE 8, the locking fingers 12 projectdownwardly through the slots 20 in the core part where their barbs 13engage beneath the spider-like member 19, thereby locking the swivelpart to the core part. Similarly, the locking fingers 44 of the nozzlepart project upwardly through the slots 21 with the barbs 45 engagingthe cam tracks 22. In addition, the ledges 46 on the barbs seat againstthe cam tracks 23 formed on the under surface of the spider-like member19. The fingers 44 thus act to look the nozzle part to the core part;and in so doing, the neck portion of the nozzle will be received withinthe restricted central portion 32 of the flow tube 16, and the O-ring 29will be confined between the neck portion 30 and the enlarged lowerportion 27 of tubular member 16, thereby effecting a tight internal sealbetween the nozzle and the core part. The nozzle part is thus securelyfastened to the core part and a water tight passageway effected betweenthe outlet opening 9 in the ball joint and the outlet orifice 35 in thenozzle. At the same time, the nozzle part is mounted for rotationrelative to the core part, the degree of rotation being determined bythe length of the arcuate slots 21 through which the locking fingers 44extend. In this connection, it will be remembered that the barbs on theupper ends of the looking fingers contact the cam tracks 22, whereas theledges on the fingers contact the cam tracks 23; and as already pointedout, the cam tracks 22 and 23 are so oriented with respect to each otherthat the lowermost ends 22a of the cam tracks 22 overlie the uppermostor high ends 23b of the cam tracks 23. In addition, the pitch of thecalm tracks 22 and 23 will be the same, preferably on the order of twoor three degrees, so that as the nozzle is rotated the barbs 45 willride up the ca m tracks 22 while the ledges 46 will ride down the camtracks 23, and vice versa. This results in the nozzle part being movedtoward and away from the core part depending upon the direction ofrotation of the nozzle part. The opposite inclination of the cam tracks22 and 23 relative to each other maintains the two parts in tightengagement at all times during their rotatiye movement. Furtherstabilization of the parts is obtained by means of the spacers 41 whichproject upwardly from the nozzle part and have the free ends seated onthe cam tracks 42a and 42b. Upon rotation of the nozzle part, thespacers ride along the cam tracks 42a and 42b which have the same pitchas the cam tracks 22 and 23 and are oriented in the same direction asthe cam tracks 23.

The button deflector 4 is mounted with its body part 47 underlying theoutlet orifice 35 and its gripping fingers 49 projecting upwardlythrough the neck of the nozzle where the barbs 50 engage about the bar25 of the core part, thereby efi'ectively securing the deflector to thecore part. While, as already pointed out, the deflector is looselysecured to the core part so that it will be self-centering, the buttonis nonetheless effectively anchored to the core part-which is astationary part-and hence the longitudi nal positionof the deflector ismaintained. Thus, when the nozzle part is rotated and hence movesaxially relative to the core part, it will likewise move axiallyrelative to the button deflector and in so moving the outlet orifice 35will be moved toward and away from the deflector. The relative positionsof the nozzle part and the deflector can be seen by comparing FIGURESSand 9. In FIGURE 8, the nozzle has been rotated so that it is axiallydisplaced in the direction of the core part, with the result that thecurved or tapered upper surface 48 of the deflector lies in spacedrelation to the curved inner surface of the spray chamber 34. In thisposition the deflector will deflect a relatively wide sheet of waterinto the spray chamber resulting in a coarse spray. On the other hand,if the nozzle part is rotated so as to displace it axially outwardly, itwill approach the body of the deflector, with the result that arelatively thin sheet of water will be deflected into the spray chamberat a higher velocity-due to the effectively smaller flow area-resultingin a fine spray. It should thus be apparent that depending upon therelative adjustment of the parts, the flow of water may be effectivelyregulated between a coarse and a fine spray, depending upon the wishesof the user. Yet the adjustment is a simple one in that the user hasmerely to grasp and turn the nozzle part, which will be readilyaccessable from outside the spray area, thereby permitting the user toobserve the results of the adjustment while the adjustment is being madeand also avoiding the unpleasant splashing which results where the usershand must be inserted inthe spray area in order to make the desiredadjustment.

The external construction of the shower head is such that the severalparts coact to provide a neat and attractive unit. Thus, the skirtportion 11 of the swivel part lies in close proximity to the upper edgeof the jacket 18 of the core part, which jacket preferably will justnicely fit Within the confines of the ann-ular'flange 39 of the nozzle.In order to enhance the appearance of the unit, it is contemplated thata cover member 51, as seen in FIGURE 9, may be slipped over the ski-rt11 and the jacket 18 in the event it is desired to provide a decorativeeffect not inherent in the material from which the parts are formed. Forexample, the cover member 51 may comprise a chromium plated metallichood. The configuration of the parts makes it possible to slip the covermember in place where it will be retained without need for specialfastening means, the configuration of the cover member being such thatit will grip the lowermost end of the jacket, with the inturned flange'2 seated on the skirt 11.

As should now be apparent, the shower head can be easily assembled inthat the parts are readily engageable one with the other and snap-lockedtogether by reason of the engagement of the various sets of lockingfingers with the core part. Yet once assembled, the device isessentially tamper-proof in that there are no exposed means by which itmay be disassembled. Due to its con-struction, there is little or noreason why the device need be disassembled. If, for some reason, it weredesired to remove the deflector to clean around it, the entire showerhead, including the ball fitting, may be removed from the supply pipe,whereupon a tool may be inserted through the ball fitting to release thebarbs SID of the deflector which then may be removed. It may be replacedby simply aligning the gripping fingers 49 with the bar and then movingthem upwardly through the outlet orifice until the bar is engaged.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications may be made in theinvention without departing from its spirit and purpose. Certain ofthese modifications have already been pointed out, and others willundoubtedly occur to the skilled worker in the art upon reading thisspecification. Similarly, the utility of the device is not limited touse as a shower head. Rather, it will find utility in diverse otherapplications wherein an adjustable spray is required. Having, however,described the invention in an exemplary embodiment, what it is desiredto secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a spray head having a body part including a passageway extendingthrough said body part, means at one end of said body part forconnecting said passageway to a water supply line, a nozzle part at theopposite end of said body part, an outlet orifice in said nozzle part inalignment with said passageway, means operatively connecting said nozzlepart and said body part for rotation relative to each other, said meanscomprising a resilient locking finger secured to one of said parts, saidlocking finger having a barb-like projection thereon in lockingengagement with an abutment means on the other of said parts, saidabutment means comprising an inclined cam track operative upon relativerotation of said nozzle and body parts to efiect axial movement of saidparts toward and away from each other, depending upon the direction oftheir rotation, a button deflector overlying said outlet orifice on thedischarge side thereof, and mounting means securing said buttondeflector to said body, whereby said nozzle part will be moved towardand away from said button deflector upon rotation of said parts relativeto each other so as to thereby vary the flow of water through saidoutlet orifice,

2. The spray head claimed in claim 1 wherein said abutment means has anarcuate slot therein, and wherein said locking finger extends throughsaid slot with the barbed portion thereof engaging said abutment meansbeyond a side edge of said slot.

3. In a spray head having a body part including a passageway extendingthrough said body part, means at one end of said body part forconnecting said passageway to a water supply line, a nozzle part at theopposite end of said body part, an outlet orifice in said nozzle part inalignment with said passageway, a spider-like member comprising a partof said body part, said spider-like member having one surface thereoffacing said nozzle part and its opposite surface facing away from saidnozzle part, an arcuate slot in said spider-like member, a first arcuatecam track lying beyond a side edge of said arcuate slot on the surfaceof said spider-like member facing away from said nozzle part, a secondarcuatecam track lying beyond a side edge of said arcuate slot on thesurface of said spider-like member facing said nozzle part, a lockingfinger mounted on said nozzle part and extending through said arcuateslot, said locking finger having a barbed portion engaging said firstcam track and an abutment thereon in engagement with second cam track,said cam tracks being equally but oppositely inclined relative to eachother so that upon relative rotation of said nozzle and body parts saidbarbed portion will travel upwardly along said first cam track and saidabutment will travel downwardly along said second cam track, and viceversa, de-

"pending upon the direction of rotation of said nozzle and body parts, abutton deflector overlying said outlet orifice on the discharge sidethereof, and mounting means securing said button deflector to said body,whereby said nozzle part will be moved toward and away from said buttondeflector upon rotation of said parts relative to each other so as tothereby vary the flow of water through said outlet orifice.

4. The spray head claimed in claim 3 wherein said body includes a swivelpart, wherein the means mounting said body part to a water supply pipecomprises a ball coupling, and wherein said swivel part includes asocket forming part adapted to receive said ball coupling.

5. The spray head claimed in claim 4 wherein said swivel part includes alocking finger projecting downwardly therefrom, said body having a slottherein for receiving said last named locking finger, said last namedlocking finger having a barbed portion engageable beyond an edge of saidlast named slot.

6. In a shower head having a body part including a passageway extendingthrough said body part, means at one end of said body part forconnecting said passageway to a water supply line, a nozzle part at theopposite end of said body part, an outlet orifice in said nozzle part inalignment with said passageway, a cup-shaped spray chamber surroundingsaid outlet orifice and projecting outwardly on the discharge sidethereof, means operatively connecting said nozzle part to said body partfor relative rotation, said means comprising a pair of opposing lockingfingers secured to one of said parts, said locking fingers each having abarb-like portion thereon in locking engagement with an abutment meanson the other of said parts, said abutment means comprising cam meansoperative upon relative rotation of said nozzle and body parts to effectaxial movement of the said parts toward and away from each other,depending upon the direction of their rotation, a deflector overlyingsaid orifice on the discharge side thereof, said deflector having a stemmember extending freely through said outlet orifice, and attachmentmeans on said stem member securing it to said body, whereby saiddeflector will be mounted independently of said nozzle part so that uponaxial movement of said nozzle part said outlet orifice will be movedtoward and :away from said deflector to thereby vary the flow of waterthrough said outlet orifice.

7. The shower head claimed in claim 6 wherein a tubular neck portionsurrounds said outlet orifice on the inlet side thereof, wherein saidneck portion is slidably received in the passageway in said body, andwherein a gasket surrounds said neck portion and makes sealing contactwith the wall surfaces of said passageway.

8. The shower head claimed in claim 7 wherein said abutment means has anopposing pair of arcuate slots therein, wherein said locking fingersproject through said slots with their barb-like portions engaged beyondside edges of said slots, wherein said cam means comprises a pair ofarcuate cam tracks lying beyond the side edges of said arcuate slots,with the barb portions of said locking fingers in engagement with saidcam tracks, and wherein said body includes an annular recess facing saidnozzle part, said annular recess defining a pair of arcuate cam trackswhich are equally but oppositely inclined relative to said first namedcam tracks, and wherein a pair of opposed spacers project upwardly fromsaid nozzle part and lie with their free ends in contact with said lastnamed cam tracks.

9. The shower head claimed in claim 8 wherein said abutment meanscomprises a spider-like member forming a part of said body part, saidspider-like member having one surface thereof facing said nozzle partand the opposite surface thereof facing away from said nozzle part,wherein said first named pair of cam tracks lie on the face of saidspider-like member remote from said nozzle part, and wherein saidannular recess is formed in the surface of said spider-like memberfacing said nozzle part.

10. The shower head claimed in claim 9 wherein a third pair of arcuatecam tracks lie beyond the side edges of said arcuate slots on thesurface of said spider-like member facing said nozzle part, said thirdpair of arcuate cam tracks being equally but oppositely inclinedrelative to said first named pair of cam tracks, and wherein saidlocking fingers have abutments thereon contacting said third pair ofarcuate cam tracks.

11. The shower head claimed in claim It) wherein the means at one end ofsaid body connecting said passageway to a water supply line comprises adetachable fitting, wherein said fitting includes an opposed pair ofbarbed locking fingers, and wherein said spider-like member has a secondpair of opposed slots therein positioned to receive and engage said lastnamed barbed fingers.

12. The shower head claimed in claim 11 wherein said fitting includes asocket member in communication with the passageway in said body, andwherein a ball coupling is mounted in said socket.

13. An adjustable shower head comprising a body having a swivel part anda core part, a nozzle part, and a deflector, said core part comprising acentrally disposed tubular member defining a water passageway, a jacketsurrounding said tubular member and lying in spaced relation thereto, aspider-like member surrounding said tubular member and connecting it tosaid jacket, a pair of opposed slots defined in opposite sides of saidspiderlike member, and a pair of opposed elongated arcuate slots definedin the remaining sides of said spider-like member, said swivel partcomprising a socket portion and a pair of depending locking fingerspositioned to enter said first named pair of slots, said socket memberbeing of a size to receive one end of said tubular member when saidlocking fingers are seated in said first named pair of slots, saidnozzle part having a cup-shaped body terminating upwardly in a tubularneck portion surrounding a centrally disposed outlet orifice, a secondpair of locking fingers projecting upwardly from opposite sides of saidnozzle part in alignment with the said pair of arcuate slots in saidcore part, the tubular neck portion of said nozzle part being of a sizeto be received within the remaining end of said tubular member when saidsecond pair of locking fingers are seated in said arcuate slots, saidsecond set of locking fingers mounting said nozzle part for rotationrelative to said core part throughout the extent of said arcuate slots,cam means operatively engaging said second set of locking fingers, saidcam means acting, upon rotation of said nozzle part relative to saidcore part, to effect axial movement of said nozzle part relative to saidcore part, said deflector comprising a circular disk having a diametergreater than the diameter of the outlet orifice in said nozzle part, apair of gripping fingers extending outwardly from one face of saidcircular disk and of a size to extend freely through said outletorifice, and a bar mounted within said tubular member, said bar beingpositioned to be engaged by said gripping fingers, whereby saiddeflector is secured to said core part so that said nozzle part, uponrotation thereof, will move relative to said deflector.

14. The shower head claimed in claim 13 wherein said spider-like memberhas an annular recess therein surrounding said tubular member and facingsaid nozzle part, wherein said nozzle part includes an opposing pair ofspacers projecting upwardly for engagement in said annu lar recess.

15. The shower head claimed in claim 14 wherein said cam means comprisearcuate cam tracks positioned to be engaged by said second set oflocking fingers, and wherein the bottom surface of the annular recess insaid core part includes cam tracks adapted to be contacted by the endsof said spacers.

16. The shower head claimed in claim 15 wherein a ball coupling is pressfitted in the socket of said swivel part to provide a water tight sealtherebetween.

17. The shower head claimed in claim 16 wherein the tubular member ofsaid core part is press fitted within the socket of said swivel part soas to provide a water tight seal therebetween.

18. The shower head claimed in claim 17 wherein the tubular neck portionof said nozzle part has an annular shoulder mounting an O-ring, andwherein said tubular member has an enlarged portion defining acontacting surface for said O-ring.

19. The shower head construction claimed in claim 18 wherein adecorative cover member is fitted over the jacket of said core part.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,044,445 6/ 1936Price et a1. 239460 2,569,255 9/1951 Pagluiso 239460 2,689,151 9/ 1954Manning 239460 2,756,108 7/1956 Warren 239460 2,888,210 5/1959 McLean239460 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A SPRAY HEAD HAVING A BODY PART INCLUDING A PASSAGEWAY EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID BODY PART, MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID BODY PART FORCONNECTING SAID PASSAGEWAY TO A WATER SUPPLY LINE, A NOZZLE PART AT THEOPPOSITE END OF SAID BODY PART, AN OUTLET ORIFICE IN SAID NOZZLE PART INALIGNMENT WITH SAID PASSAGEWAY, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID NOZZLEPART AND SAID BODY PART FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, SAID MEANSCOMPRISING A RESILIENT LOCKING FINGER SECURED TO ONE OF SAID PARTS, SAIDLOCKING FINGER HAVING A BARB-LIKE PROJECTION THEREON IN LOCKINGENAGEMENT WITH AN ABUTMENT MEANS ON THE OTHER OF SAID PARTS, SAIDABUTMENT MEANS COMPRISING AN INCLINED CAM TRACK OPERATIVE UPON RELATIVEROTATION OF SAID NOZZLE AND BODY PARTS TO EFFECT AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAIDPARTS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, DEPENDING UPON THE DIRECTION OFTHEIR ROTATION, A BUTTON DEFLECTOR OVERLYING SAID OUTLET ORIFICE ON THEDISCHARGE SIDE THEREOF, AND MOUNTING MEANS SECURING SAID BUTTONDEFLECTOR TO SAID BODY, WHEREBY SAID NOZZLE PART WILL BE MOVED TOWARDAND AWAY FROM SAID BUTTON DEFLECTOR UPON ROTATION OF SAID PARTS RELATIVETO EACH OTHER SO AS TO THEREBY VARY THE FLOW OF WATER THROUGH SAIDOUTLET ORIFICE.